Maya Ruin Tours

Belize Maya Ruin Tours

The Mayas are the oldest classical civilizations of Meso-America and remain a prominent part of Belize’s culture in terms of archaeology, food, and farming. Originating in the Yucatan around 2600 B.C., the Mayan civilization rose to prominence around 250 A.D. Belize was believed to be at the hub of the Mayan Empire and thus presents a unique look into that time period. These ancient Mayan civilizations are famous for building elaborate and highly decorated ceremonial structures, including temples for worship, palaces, and observatories. Today, a few of these historical Mayan temples are still some of the tallest structures in Belize!

Visit, climb, and explore one of Belize’s most popular Mayan temples with our Xunantunich Mayan Tour

Start your journey traveling the most scenic highway in Belize. Its winding hills and lush greenery makes for a pleasant and captivating ride as you drive the Hummingbird Highway on your way to the Cayo District. During your three-hour drive, you will enjoy passing through many small, local villages and even the nation’s capital, Belmopan, to get a feel of everyday life in Belize.

The Western Highway then takes you through the bustling market town of San Ignacio that sits on the banks of the Macal River. Your journey continues west where you will cross the Mopan River on a hand-cranked ferry to access the large Mayan archaeological site of Xunantunich (pronounced shu-nan-tu-nitch), translated as the Stone Lady or Maiden of the Rocks.

This fascinating pyramid boasts several plazas and a large selection of classic stelae. The entire archaeological site was once believed to have been a major ceremonial structure and is situated high on a limestone ridge. Those ambitious enough to hike the top of El Castillo, the tallest structure on site, will be rewarded with panoramic views of both Belize and Guatemala.

Learn more about the history and architecture of Xunantunich at the information center.

Take a tour of Southern Belize where the people are sweet and the tours keep you on your feet

Join us as we venture to Belize’s southernmost district, Toledo, the least developed region of Belize with pristine rainforests and cultural attractions. Your first stop is at the Belize Spice Farm and Botanical Garden that was founded 20 years ago. Here, you will take a one hour guided informational tour getting to see Belize’s largest vanilla and black pepper farm as well as teak, mahogany, rosewood, and sandalwood trees.

Located on the foothills of the Maya Mountains and the basin of the Rio Grande River lies the Maya archaeological site of Ni Li Punit. This site is well known for its large amount of stelae; there is a total of twenty-six stelae, one of which is the longest in Belize. It depicts a figure wearing a large headdress which derived its name Nim li Punit and is translated from the Maya Kekchi language as "the big hat."

Before visiting Lubaantun, the largest Mayan archaeological site in southern Belize, you will stop in Big Falls Village for a delicious lunch. Lubaantun is known for its unusual style of construction; no visible mortar binds the limestone blocks together! It is believed that the strength of each structure lies in every hand-cut stone, which demands precise measurements and shapes to fit snugly into its neighboring block.

The Xunantunich Mayan Ruins were stunning & our guide George, knew so much about the history of the location & Mayan culture. The drive there can seem daunting at 3 hours, but you make a couple stops (ice cream!) & we learned a lot about Belize along the way, so it goes by quickly. Afterward you stop at Benny’s for lunch. Get the pibil, that’s all you need to know… you’re welcome. - TripAdvisor user